CRICKET EMPRESSEMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2411, 17 January 1895, Page 3

CRICKET EMPRESSEMENT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Notwithstanding the risk I run in having my remarks stigmatised as “unmitigated rot” by the present race of cricketing Cognoscenti, I wish, with your able assistance, sir, to place them, as a veteran, on record. Without in any possible way wishing to detract from the splendid bowling of Upham and Pitzslmons in the Wellington-Midland match, X am of the firm opinion that the utter rout the Wellington Club sustained in the late contest arose mainly through lack of practice ; furthermore, the wearing of those'utterly useless, skimpy, close-fitting skull caps, excellent mediums for bronzing the skin and destroying the eye-sight, unless endowed with an eagle’s optics to withstand the burning glare of a hot afternoon’s summer setting sun on No. 2 wicket, which flares full in the batsman’s face at the eastern end of the pitch. Arthur Blacklock’s success this season can be chiefly attributed to the wearing of a sensible head-gear, a. light, broad-bipim m,! d soft white felt hat, to counteract the glaring light, concentrating and rendering the sight keener. The veteran Salmon invariably adopts a similar covering for the' head when batting successfully. I havg also, noticed that the erstwhile invincible Bob Blacklock always bats best whriri the sky is overcast, as evidenced by hia magnificent scoring pf an evening in the Phoenix-Midland contest, Qf course every cricketer I know is not constituted rrith precisely similar optical power, hut the general run would do well to give heed to the suggestion of—l am. Experto Grebe. 15th January, 1895.